Milan Hnilička facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Milan Hnilička MP
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 21 October 2017 – 26 January 2021
Personal details
Born	(1973-06-25) 25 June 1973 (age 51) Litoměřice, Czechoslovakia
Ice hockey career Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb) Position Goaltender Caught Left Played for Kladno Sparta Praha New York Rangers Atlanta Thrashers Los Angeles Kings Bílí Tygři Liberec Salavat Yulaev Ufa Slavia Praha National team  Czechoslovakia and  Czech Republic NHL Draft 70th overall, 1991 New York Islanders Playing career 1989–2010

Milan Hnilička (born June 25, 1973) is a famous Czech former professional ice hockey player. He was a talented Goaltender (goalie) who played in the top league, the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for teams like the New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers, and Los Angeles Kings.

After his hockey career, Milan Hnilička became a politician. He was a Member of Parliament in the Czech Republic starting in 2017. He later resigned from this role in January 2021. In 1991, the New York Islanders picked him as the 70th player in the 1991 NHL entry draft. He also won the Calder Cup in 2000 while playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack. Milan Hnilička announced his retirement from hockey in August 2010. He proudly represented his country, playing for both the Czechoslovak junior team and the Czech national senior team in many big tournaments.

Milan Hnilička's Hockey Journey

Milan Hnilička started his hockey career playing for Poldi SONP Kladno in the Czechoslovak Extraliga. This was the top league in Czechoslovakia. In 1991, he was chosen by the New York Islanders in the NHL draft. This meant a team in the National Hockey League wanted him to play for them.

He moved to North America in 1992. He played one season for the Swift Current Broncos in the Western Hockey League (WHL), a major junior league. He helped his team reach the 1993 Memorial Cup, which is a big championship for junior teams. After two years in minor leagues, he went back to the Czech Extraliga.

In 1999, the New York Rangers signed him. He made his first NHL appearance on October 14, 1999. Most of that season, he played for the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' team in the American Hockey League (AHL). He helped the Wolf Pack win the Calder Cup, which is the championship trophy for the AHL.

Later, he joined the Atlanta Thrashers and played for them for three seasons. In 2003, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. He mostly played for the Kings' AHL team, the Manchester Monarchs. Milan Hnilička returned to the Czech Republic in 2004. He played five seasons with HC Bílí Tygři Liberec. He also briefly played for Salavat Yulaev Ufa in Russia. His last games were in the 2009–10 season for HC Slavia Praha. He holds a special record for the Atlanta Thrashers team. He made 53 saves in one game on December 18, 2001. This was against the Boston Bruins.

Playing for His Country

Milan Hnilička first played for the Czechoslovak junior team in 1990. This was at the European Junior Championships, where he won a bronze medal. He also won a bronze medal at the 1991 World Junior Championships. He was part of the Czechoslovak senior team for the 1991 Canada Cup and 1991 World Championships, but he did not play in those tournaments. His last junior tournament for Czechoslovakia was in 1992.

After Czechoslovakia split into two countries, he started playing for the Czech national team. He played in seven World Championships. He also played in the 1998 and 2006 Winter Olympics. He won gold medals at the 1999, 2001, and 2005 World Championships. He also won a silver medal in 2006 and bronze medals in 1997 and 1998.